Evan Turner lead Ohio State to the 2010 Big Ten Tournament title last week.

 I like that guy Evan Turner. 

Yep. That guy who hit that 37-footer to beat Michigan in the Big Ten Tournamet Ohio State eventually won last week. The Chicago native is fun to watch and can flat out ball. 

Erie BayHawks forward Ivan Harris agrees. 

The Ohio State graduate and I talk about him all the time before practice. There was a time people were debating if Turner was even the best player in the Big Ten after he came back from injuring his back. 

Now he’s considered one of the best players in the country. 

“He is the best player,” said Harris about Turner, who is averaging 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists this season. “There’s no debate about that. Six-foot-seven. Playing point. He’s got an overall game. I just feel like he’s the man right now.” 

OK. Ivan. I agree. 

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The BayHawks must contend with Albuquerque's Keith McLeod, who has averaged 31.1 points in his last six games.

Erie BayHawks (15-25) at Albuquerque Thunderbirds (18-22)

Saturday, 9 p.m., Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, N.M.

On the air: WJET-AM 1400, www.nba.com/dleague (live stream).

Players to watch, Erie:

SF Jackie Manuel (Expected to play tonight after missing Tuesday’s win against Sioux Falls with a stomach virus.). … SG Blake Ahearn (Averaging 21.6 points in his three games with Erie since being traded from Bakersfield for D-League All-Star rookie power forward Alade Aminu). … SF Ivan Harris (Scored 21 points Tuesday after not scoring in Erie’s previous game against Iowa).

Players to watch, Albuquerque:

G Keith McLeod (After not scoring in an Feb. 25 loss at Idaho, McLeod has averaged 31.1 points in his last six games. He went for 44 in a March 3 loss at Dakota). … G Antonio Agudio (Averaging 15.4 points and shooting 42.8 percent from 3-point range). … SF Trey Gilder (Traded to Albuquerque from Maine for center Kurt Looby on March 5, Gilder is averaging 13.9 points this season.

Fast facts: Erie — The BayHawks are without rookie point guard Cedric Jackson, who signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs this week. … Shooting guard Mike Gansey has averaged 26 points and shot 13-of-23 from 3-point range in his last three games. … Erie has won its last two games.

Fast facts: Albuquerque — The Thunderbirds’ leading scorer, Carlos Powell, is now overseas playing in China. The top pick in the 2009 D-League Draft, Powell averaged 22.1 points in 33 games for them. … Albuquerque snapped a seven-game losing skid in Wednesday’s win against Fort Wayne.

 BayHawks up next: at Idaho (Saturday, 9 p.m.), at Utah (Monday, 9 p.m.).

— Duane Rankin

The Erie BayHawks folded at the end.

They were up 76-73 with two minutes and 42 seconds left in the game after power forward Alade Aminu scored three straight baskets in the paint area.

The BayHawks didn’t score again until Mike Gansey made a lay up with three seconds left as they lost 82-78 to the expansion Red Claws, who are 5-0 against them.

What happened in between?

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Jackie Manuel is the hustle guy of the late unit Erie may end games with more often this season.

This won’t take long.

What I noticed in Erie’s 102-89 win was the game-ending lineup coach John Treloar went with against the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the final day of the D-League Showcase in Boise, Idaho.

He put rookie point guard Cedric Jackson, forward Ivan Harris, newly acquired guard Mike Gansey, center John Bryant and swingman Jackie Manuel.

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The  Erie BayHawks have been changing their line-up more than a runway model.

Hard to say if this current starting unit will work against Iowa, but it helped them score 34 points in the first quarter in Erie’s win at Springfield to snap a five-game winning streak. Now the Armor had only won one game, but Erie had just two victories, so at this point, this is a decent win for the BayHawks.

There were four key moves in this:

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Final: Iowa Energy 95, Erie 88

High scorers: Ivan Harris (ERI) 28 points; Curtis Stinson (IWA) 20 points.
High rebounders: Earl Barron (IWA) 14 rebounds; Jackie Manuel (ERI) 10 rebounds.
High assists: Stinson (IWA) 10 assists; Cliff Clinkscales (ERI) 7 assists.
Double-doubles: Stinson (IWA) 20 points, 10 assists; Barron (IWA) 11 points, 14 rebounds (five offensive), Jackie Manuel (ERI) 10 points, 10 rebounds.
Local look: Kyle Goldcamp (ERI) Did not play.
Biggest lead: Iowa led by 13 points, 31-18 with eight minutes, 10 seconds left in the half.
Next game for Erie (2-6): at 7-1 Iowa (Sunday, 5 p.m.)

Donell Taylor looks to bounce back from a 3-of-18 shooting effort in Erie's loss to Maine.

Maine Red Claws (5-1) at Erie BayHawks (2-3)
Wednesday night (Buck Night), 7 p.m.; at Tullio Arena. Tickets are $5 with every time at concessions costing $1 including beer.

On the air: WFNN-AM/1300, www.nba.com/dleague (live stream)

Players to watch: Maine – SF Bill Walker (Avg. a team-high 16.7 points a game); SG Billy Thomas (Scored 26 points in Maine’s 116-90 win at Erie last week, making 6-of-8 3-point shots. He’s fifth in the D-League in 3-point shooting at 57.1 percent); SG Tony Bobbitt (Fourth in the D-League in 3-point shooting at 57.9 percent). Erie — C John Bryant (Avg. 16.2 ppg. and 13 rebounds); G Donell Taylor (Shot just 3-of-18 from the field in loss to Maine last week; avg. a team-high 18.8 ppg.); SF Ivan Harris (Scored a season-high 14 points in his last game on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. He came into that game shooting 14-of-41 from the field.

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We had a lot of fun with this.

After Thursday’s practice, the Erie BayHawks did some video for us and this is the result of it. The guys seem to have a good time with it at LECOM, which is where the BayHawks practice.

The BayHawks (2-2) play their home opener against the Maine Red Claws (3-1) at Tullio Arena. Thes crazy thing about this opener is the BayHawks will have their first practice in the arena later today in their afternoon shootaround.

Forward Ivan Harris has shaved his head since last season with Erie and no longer rocks the braids.

The Erie BayHawks have to make their final two cuts by Wednesday at 5 p.m. to get their roster down to 10 players for the season opener Friday at Fort Wayne.

On Monday night, the BayHawks had a controlled scrimmage at East High School that revealed quite a bit about each of the remaining 12 players. The White team consisted of guards Cedric Jackson, Oliver Lafayette, Rod Wilmont, forwards Ivan Harris, Kyle Goldcamp and center John Bryant.

That team beat the Black team, 34-32. The black team consistead of first-round pick, guard Donell Taylor, guards Zach Sowers and forwards Jackie Manuel, Martin Zeno, Alade Aminu and Jarvis Gunter.

Very competitive game, but here’s what I noticed about each player in the scrimmage.

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Here’s who the Erie BayHawks will likely start in Thursday’s 7 p.m. D-League preseason game against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and Meadville Area Senior High School.

PG – Donell Taylor (6-6, 185, Alabama-Birmingham)
SG – Oliver Lafayette (6-2, 190, Houston)
SF – Jackie Manuel (6-5, 189, North Carolina)
PF – Ivan Harris (6-7, 215, Ohio State)
C – Jarvis Gunter (6-10, 210, Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

Now Lafayette, Manuel, Harris and Gunter all played for Erie in its expansion year last season. Taylor is the only new starter. The Bayhawks picked him with the second overall pick in this year’s draft Nov. 5.

When looking at this starting line up, two things jump out.

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